© by Ray Sanchez 04.17.16
The celebration of the 50th anniversary of Texas
And naturally, we sports journalists are always looking for something new to write about. In that regard I ran into a photo of the championship team that has never appeared in print in an American newspaper before.
The photo, shown here, was taken by a female member of the Spanish language newspaper, El Fronterizo, shortly after the Miners won the title. The little items at the feet of the players are piñatas, those little jugs filled with goodies that are hung up so kids can try to break them. They were a gift from El Fronterizo newspaper.
The photo eventually wound up in the hands of Leon Blevins, a professor at El Paso Community College. How did he wind up with it? Here’s a news release, in part:
“ACCORDING TO Eddie Mullens, longtime Miners Sports Information Director, the black and white photograph without citations and autographs was taken in 1966 by a female photographer from Juarez, Mexico. The photograph originally appeared in a newspaper that is no longer in existence 50 years later. That’s the 50th anniversary of the championship game of March 19, 1966.
“Professor Leon Blevins of the Government Department of El Paso Community College was given a copy of the photograph by a man that he met who traded in coins, photographs and other collectibles. In February, professor Blevins hosted a weekly interview television show on EPCC-TV and on KCOS-TV, the El Paso affiliate of the Public Broadcasting System. He and his television assistant, Claire Rodriguez, placed the citations on the bottom of the original photograph …
“LEON BLEVINS was teaching and studying at Texas Western College between 1965 and 1967.He received a Masters degree in political science during the summer of 1967.
“In the fall semester of 1966, after the national championship game, one of the African-American starters on the championship team was a student in a class taught by Leon Blevins. Last February 4, for a short period of time, Leon Blevins was able to visit with Orsten Artis, his former student from 50 years before. Orsten Artis is shown as No. 20 in the 1966 photograph.”
THE CELEBRATION of the 1966 Miners will continue in another venue, this year’s “Dinner with the Miners.”
This year’s banquet, sponsored by the El Paso Downtown Lions Club and the University of Texas at El Paso, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 3, at the Wyndham Hotel-Airport.
Here’s a little history of the event as told by Jlm Peak, who has worked on the project for 42 years and is the former chief fundraiser for UTEP and director of Alumni Affairs and Community Relations. He writes:
“THE DINNER with the Miners was started by John Phelan, famous El Paso sportscaster, in 1974 for the football team and later would include all sports, both men and women. After paying for all meals of guests, athletes and coaches, the proceeds provide athletic scholarships from two endowment funds valued over $536,000.
“This year the Downtown Lions will also honor all past members of the 1966 basketball championship team from Texas Western College with a special designed watch for their 50 years anniversary. The watches will be presented by Lion President Armando Medrano.
“Miner fans can purchase a table for $500 to seat SIC table sponsors and four athletes or coaches. A half table with three seats is available for $275. Tables are assigned by first checks received.”
I know you’ll want to participate, so contact Lion Past District Governor Jim Peak at 915-581-0490 for information and reservations.